The great philosopher... Barney Rubble....once said: "It takes a smart man to know he's stupid.". The writer of Ecclesiastes was such a man, he was smart enough to realize that the "pursuit of life under the sun" in which he had been consumed was meaningless and futile. He had it all: money, power, position, fame, and every pleasure imaginable. Still, he found it all meaningless. He still wasn't happy. Like a "puff of wind" life was empty and meaningless. In verse 8 he describes his life this way: "All things are wearisome". He has had everything imaginable but it leads nowhere, he's tired of it all. We would probably just say "I'm Bored!"

Susan Ertz said, "Millions long for immortality, and yet don't know what to do on a rainy afternoon." The truth of the matter is that like the Teacher, we too have "been there, done that" and we too are bored. You see when we lack purpose and meaning, we easily become bored. Boredom doesn't result just from a lack of stimulation of the senses. It's more basic cause is that we are bored because our life lacks meaning and purpose. Such is the boredom of Koheleth, the teacher.

The parallels between the Teacher, Koheleth and the life of Solomon are clear. Some believe that Solomon himself wrote the book of Ecclesiastes, others think that Koheleth was using Solomon's life as an example to teach by...but regardless it seems clear that the person whose life is being described as meaningless, the person who is bored, is King Solomon, a man who had it all and was just plain bored with life. For simplicity, I will speak of Solomon as the author.

Just as King Solomon, it is easy for us to get up in the rat-race of life-- that never ending cycle of busyness. When we stop to evaluate our progress, we may see that we too lack the meaning and purpose that down deep we long for. We too may have days where we say, "I'm Bored".

THE FUTILE SEARCH:

The futility of searching for meaning in Fame (Ecclesiastes 1:11)

Eccles. 1:11 There is no remembrance of men of old, and even those who are yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow. (NIV)

Solomon clearly understood that fame is fleeting, very few are really remembered. Those that do find fame have to deal with the consequences of it: the loss of freedom, the loss of the ability to do the things you want to do when and where you want to do them. Andy Warhol predicted: "In the future everyone will be famous for 15 minutes." That might appeal to some, but I'm not sure that it's really worth all the hassle. Solomon was a famous man, but it didn't bring meaning....only emptiness.

The futility of searching for meaning in Education (Ecclesiastes 1:12-18)

Eccles. 1:12-18 I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. [13] I devoted myself to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a heavy burden God has laid on men! [14] I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind. [15] What is twisted cannot be straightened; what is lacking cannot be counted. [16] I thought to myself, "Look, I have grown and increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge." [17] Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind. [18] For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.

Many believe that education will solve all the world's problems. A good education is important, that's for sure, but will it bring meaning in and of itself? Solomon was perhaps the wisest man who ever lived, he said that the wisdom and knowledge he had gained did not bring meaning. Instead he describes it as a heavy burden. Some of you who are students can relate with that. Education is a good thing, but apart from a personal knowledge and relationship with God, it will not bring the meaning and purpose your soul aches for.

The futility of searching for meaning through the pursuit of Pleasure (Ecclesiastes 2:1-3; 8-10)

Eccles. 2:1-3;8-10 I thought in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good." But that also proved to be meaningless. [2] "Laughter," I said, "is foolish. And what does pleasure accomplish?" [3] I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly--my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives. [8] I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired men and women singers, and a harem as well--the delights of the heart of man. [9] I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me. [10] I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure....

Solomon had it all, every pleasure imaginable. If as the bumper sticker says, "The one who dies with the most toys wins" were true, Solomon would be the ultimate winner. Unfortunately the bumper sticker is shortsighted, for the one who dies with the most toys still dies and loses his toys in the bargain. Then he has to face his maker. Whatever you may try, to fill the longing for meaning and purpose: sports, music, sex, whatever...Solomon had it and he says it was meaningless. Some try to drink themselves silly thinking that they can escape meaning and purpose, evidently Solomon tried that too, yet he longed for something more.

G.K. Chesterton wrote: "Despair does not lie in being weary of suffering, but in being weary of joy." Ravi Zacharias referring to that statement writes: "I would change just one word in the statement so that it would reflect our present word usage more accurately--'Despair does not lie in being weary of suffering but in being weary of pleasure'" He goes on to say "...when the pleasure button is repeatedly pressed and can no longer deliver or sustain, the emptiness that results is terrifying."

Stephen Covey in his bestselling book: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People writes perceptively:

"Innocent pleasure in moderation can provide relaxation for the body and mind and can foster family and other relationships. But pleasure, per se, offers no deep, lasting satisfaction or sense of fulfillment. The pleasure-centered person, too soon bored with each succeeding level of "fun," constantly cries for more and more. So the next new pleasure has to be bigger and better, more exciting, with a bigger "high." A person in this state becomes almost entirely narcissistic, interpreting all of life in terms of the pleasure it provides to the self here and now.

Too many vacations that last too long, too many movies, too much TV, too much video game playing--too much undisciplined leisure time in which a person continually takes the course of least resistance gradually wastes a life. It ensures that a person's capacities stay dormant, that talents remain undeveloped, that the mind and spirit become lethargic and that the heart is unfulfilled. Where is the security, the guidance, the wisdom and the power? At the low end of the continuum, in the pleasure of a fleeting moment."

The futility of searching for meaning through Materialism (Ecclesiastes 2:4-8a)

Eccles. 2:4-8 I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. [5] I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. [6] I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. [7] I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. [8] I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces....

John D. Rockefeeler was once asked how much money it would take to be really satisfied. He answered, "Just a little bit more!" How true. No matter how much we get, the desire for more is not quenched. In fact it may even grow stronger.

Money never made a man happy yet, nor will it. There is nothing in its nature to produce happiness the more a man has, the more he wants. Instead of filling a vaccuum, it creates one. Benjamin Franklin wrote: "Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure, and trouble therewith."

The futility of searching for meaning through Power and Position (2:9)

Eccles. 2:9 I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.

Solomon gained great power and position. Did meaning come through greatness? No, meaning was not found there either.

The futility of searching for meaning through Work (2:12-23)

Eccles. 2:12-23 Then I turned my thoughts to consider wisdom, and also madness and folly. What more can the king's successor do than what has already been done? [13] I saw that wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness. [14] The wise man has eyes in his head, while the fool walks in the darkness; but I came to realize that the same fate overtakes them both. [15] Then I thought in my heart,"The fate of the fool will overtake me also. What then do I gain by being wise?" I said in my heart, "This too is meaningless." [16] For the wise man, like the fool, will not be long remembered; in days to come both will be forgotten. Like the fool, the wise man too must die! [17] So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. [18] I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. [19] And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the work into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless. [20] So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. [21] For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then he must leave all he owns to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune. [22] What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun? [23] All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless.

Some sacrifice everything for the sake of their work. They think that meaning is found in work. Work is important and we are to do it to the glory of God. We ought to find satisfaction in our work. Yet, it is not the place where ultimate meaning and significance is found. We work and work and work and work and what do we have to show for it? A broken family? Missing out on watching our kids grow up? Work is important, but it will not bring meaning to your life.

Besides, the Teacher says, Even if I amass a great deal of wealth, when I die I will leave it all behind. And who knows if the person I will leave it to will be a wise man or a fool. Who knows if he or she will use it wisely. Another problem of accumulating this great wealth, is that you can't sleep at night (vs. 22).

Pursuing work as a means of find meaning and purpose in life, will not satisfy,it was never meant to.

THE GLIMPSE OF HOPE:

Eccles. 2:24-26 A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, [25] for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? [26] To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Is there any hope that meaning can be found? Yes, there is a glimpse of hope in this passage. In verse 26, Solomon reminds us that God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness to the Man who pleases him. Where is meaning and purpose found? In pleasing God.

Blaise Pascal wrote: "There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man, and only God can fill it."

St. Augustine wrote: "You have made us for yourself and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee."

God created us with a need for a relationship with Him. The meaning and purpose we seek can be found only in living a life that pleases Him.

The New Testament gives us a clear glimpse of hope and that glimpse of hope is found in Jesus Christ who described himself as the "Way, the Truth and the Life". If you have not yet experienced a relationship with Christ, you are still searching--probably trying to fill the void-- like our Teacher through materialism, pleasure, fame, power, position or through your work. These are all dead end streets apart from Christ. Give your life to him, he is the way, the truth and the life you need.

If you are a Christian, realize that you are not satisfed and fulfilled when you are living for yourself and pursuing other goals than "Pleasing God." Everything we do is to be done to the glory of God. Where are your priorities? Are you bored with life? With your church? With your relationship with God? Then maybe other pursuits have dulled your passion for pleasing God. Where is your meaning and purpose as a Christian? In money, pleasure, power, position, relationships? No, all of these things must find their proper perspective in a life that is devoted to the number one priority: pleasing God.

"I'm Bored" A sermon preached by Rev. Jeffrey R. Syverson at Faith Alliance Church in 1993.

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If you have comments or suggestions, email me at JeffSyv@concentric.net

Updated May 22, 1997